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Tippecanoe County, IN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Numeric pet limit
None in the animal-control chapter
Governing standard
Care capacity, not headcount (§ 90.03(A)(8))
Numeric caps, if any
Set by separate zoning ordinance (§ 90.01(A))
Enforcement path
Impoundment for unsanitary/nuisance conditions (§ 90.08(B))
General fine
$250 catch-all (§ 90.99)
Farm exemption
Commercial farming largely exempt (§ 90.01(A))

Summary

Tippecanoe County's animal-control chapter does not cap the number of dogs or cats a household may keep. § 90.03(A)(8) instead bars keeping animals in a quantity the owner cannot properly care for, and any numeric per-lot cap comes from the county's separate zoning ordinance, not Chapter 90.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Tippecanoe County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

§ 90.01 APPLICATION. (A) ... Nothing in this chapter is intended to limit the applicability or enforcement of zoning ordinances in Tippecanoe County including, without limitation, those restricting the number of animals permitted in a given area. ... § 90.03 PROHIBITED ACTS. (A) An owner shall not do any of the following: ... (8) Maintain animals in quantity or type that is offensive or dangerous to public health, safety or welfare or maintain animals in a quantity greater than the owner can properly care for such that conditions are hazardous to the health or well-being of the animal.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-17: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2025-25-CM, passed 8-1-25; and State legislation current through 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).

Full Breakdown

" So a hard numeric limit, if one applies to a given parcel, sits in the county's zoning ordinance rather than the animal-control code. 08(B)(1), regardless of how many animals the owner has. 01(B).

Violations & Fines

A violation of § 90.03(A)(8) is not tied to any specific dollar figure in the § 90.99 penalty table, so it falls under the table's catch-all line, "All other violations of this chapter not otherwise specified," carrying a $250 fine. Animals kept in unsanitary or inhumane conditions because of overcrowding can also be impounded under § 90.08(B), separate from any fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many dogs or cats can I legally keep in unincorporated Tippecanoe County?
Chapter 90 sets no fixed number. § 90.03(A)(8) instead prohibits keeping animals in a quantity greater than the owner can properly care for, to the point conditions become hazardous to the animals' health, so enforcement turns on condition, not headcount.
Where would a numeric pet limit come from if not the animal-control code?
§ 90.01(A) expressly says the chapter does not limit "the applicability or enforcement of zoning ordinances in Tippecanoe County including, without limitation, those restricting the number of animals permitted in a given area," so a hard cap would live in the county's separate zoning ordinance.
What happens if Animal Control decides I have too many pets?
The Animal Control Officer can impound animals kept in unsanitary conditions or not humanely treated under § 90.08(B), and an owner who maintains animals beyond the owner's ability to care for them faces the § 90.99 general fine of $250 for violating § 90.03(A)(8).
Does this quantity rule apply to farms?
Mostly no. § 90.01(A) exempts animals kept in the business of commercial farming from the chapter generally, though § 90.01(B) still applies the at-large and property-damage prohibitions of § 90.03(A)(1) and (2) to farm animals.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tippecanoe County

Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsChickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsBreed RestrictionsSome RestrictionsCat RulesLight RestrictionsVeterinary Clinic ZoningSignificant RestrictionsMicrochippingSome RestrictionsMandatory Spay/NeuterSignificant RestrictionsPet Store RulesSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Tippecanoe County rules

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